How to Power Through Dri-Tri: Advice for First-Timers

We know what you’re thinking. You hear “Dri-Tri” and you immediately think this event this is reserved for fitness junkies who thrive on intensity and competition.

When you consider a community-backed support system working out alongside you, music that gets your heart pumping, and coaches that inspire your next step, rep, or row, Dri-Tri isn’t only reserved for the hard-core athletes.

It’s for all levels – including you.

For all you first timers out there, take advantage of these tips to motivate and encourage you to reach your personal best during the ultimate personal fitness challenge, the OTF Dri-Tri.

What Is Dri-Tri?

This out-of-water triathlon is a semi-annual fitness event consisting of a 2000m row, 300 bodyweight reps, followed by a 5k run on the treadmill. It’s hosted twice a year to provide you the opportunity to track your progress over time.

Maybe you’ve completed one of these benchmark exercises at one point during class, but the mere thought of completing them all at once already has your stomach in knots.

Nervous to sign up?

Don’t be – and here’s why:

We’re all in this together. Think of those around you not as your competitors, but as your inspiration to push yourself to your optimal potential. The only real competition is with yourself, and it ultimately comes down to your personal growth and development.

Technology is on your side. Your heart rate monitor was designed to help you gauge your level of effort. So, listen to it. If you’re confident and feeling alive in the Orange Zone, push harder. If you can’t catch your breath in the Red Zone, take it down a notch. You’re not doing your body any favors by ignoring your heart rate – It’s the only muscle that gets to the heart of fitness.

The music will help your mental game. The beat of the music releases feel-good chemicals in the brain and can serve as a natural pain reliever during your All-Out moments!

Already signed up?

Take note of these 3 helpful tips to ease those first-time jitters before you hit the ground running.

During the row, pace yourself. The common mistake of all first-timers is jumping on the rower, only to burn out at the 200m mark. There’s no worse feeling than realizing 1) You’re already burned out, 2) You’ve got 1,800m to go, and 3) it’s only the first leg of the event. Don’t make the mistake of exhausting all of your energy on your first power pull. Rather, focus on perfecting the movement with longer, more efficient strokes to keep some gas in the tank. Here’s a little tip – warm up during the first 300m to get into a rhythm, stay consistent for the next 1400m, and ramp up the last 300m. You must reserve some energy for your shining moment at the finish line.

During the reps, breathe. This is seemingly a no-brainer, but one of the most overlooked exercises to improve performance. if you’re focusing too heavily on your body’s state of fatigue instead of controlling your breathing, a perceived lack of oxygen to the brain can take over and negatively impact your endurance.

During the treadmill, think mind over matter. You’ve prepared for this. You’ve earned this. You deserve this. You’ve given yourself something to train for. All that’s left is the mental strength to get through your All-Out moments. Just think about why you signed up in the first place and let the adrenaline rush work in your favor.

Take it from loyal member Nicole T., who crushed the Dri-Tri despite her medical setbacks. After an undetermined prognosis left her bedridden for almost a year, Nicole felt as though her world collapsed around her. In her weak state, she suffered from an unhealthy weight loss – about 100lbs – before she was officially diagnosed with Lyme Disease. After 18 months of treatment and the right prescription of Orangetheory, she has since come out on top. Not only did she slowly start exercising again, she felt she was up for a challenge.

It’s inspirational stories like these that answer the question of “Why Dri-Tri?”

It’s the sense of accomplishment after every personal record or milestone in your fitness journey that will continuously inspire you to put more into the studio, and get more out of life. We urge you to power through your excuses, and be proud of yourself.

One last word of advice? Don’t ever get discouraged. If you’re not ready to take on the full distances, we may have something right up your alley. With our Dri-Tri Sprint, you still get the full Dri-Tri experience, but you’re only committing to half the distances! Tackle the challenge by diving into a 1,000m row, 150 bodyweight reps, and a 2.5k run. You know what they say – the only workout you’ll ever regret is the one you didn’t do.

Whether you’re looking for a challenge, or you’re looking for a way to spice up your normal fitness routine, use the upcoming Dri-Tri as an opportunity to test your strength, power, and endurance, and don’t forget to gauge your improvements over time. You cannot change what you cannot measure, and participation in this personal challenge will serve as a great first step.